Cartilage
About the Cartilage
Cartilage is a firm flexible connective tissue. Three types: hyaline articular cartilage covering bone ends, costal cartilage connecting ribs to sternum, nose, trachea, bronchi most common type. Elastic external ear, epiglottis, Eustachian tube containing elastin. Fibrocartilage intervertebral discs, pubic symphysis, menisci, TMJ strongest type containing thick collagen bundles. Cartilage is avascular and aneural, receiving nutrition via diffusion from synovial fluid, making healing extremely slow. Chondrocytes maintain the extracellular matrix of collagen type II and proteoglycans including aggrecan. Articular cartilage damage leads to osteoarthritis. Osteochondral grafting and microfracture surgery attempt repair. Cartilage thinning on MRI indicates arthritis. Osteoarthritis affects articular cartilage, rheumatoid arthritis erodes it.
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